Automatic phonograph mechanism



Feb. 20, 1940; N R 2,191,215

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH MECHANISM Filed April 20, 1936 4 Sheets*Sheet 1 INVENTOR. pau/ 1/. Lannerd.

BY c A (7 ATTORNEY.

. Feb. 20, 1940. P, U, LAN ERD AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH MECHANISM I Filed April 20, 1936 4 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

' U Lennard,

TTORNEY.

Feb; 20, 1940. A R 2,191,215

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH MECHANISM Filed April 20. 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet s i as INVENTOR. a ga (:1 Paul U Lamverd ATTORNEY.

F 0, 1940- P. LANNERD I ,2

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH MECHANISM Filed April 20, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheef l INVENTOR. Paul U Lflnnero.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 20, 1940 UNITED STATES AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH MECHANISM Paul U. Lannerd, Elyria, Ohio, assignor to The General Industries Company, Elyria, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application April-20,

23 Claims.

This invention relates to phonograph mechanisms and particularly to phonograph mechanisms whereby a plurality of records of the disc type may be played, one after the other, automatically.

Heretofore, phonograph mechanisms of this class have been proposed whereby a pile or tier of disc-type records may be placed on the phonograph turntable and played one after the other automatically, the record which has been played being automatically discharged from the pile or tier into a suitable receptacle, and after each record is played, the reproducing head of the.

phonograph being returned to the starting point e 1a of the next record in the pile.

In some such prior phonograph mechanisms, provision has been made for the automatic playing and removing of records of two sizes or diameters, for example ten inch and twelve inch records; but in suchprior mechanisms, when it is desired to change, say, from playing ten inch records to playing twelve inch records, it has been necessary to adjust both the record discharging mechanism and the reproducing head positioning mechanism to adapt them to the different size of records; and the same has been true in going back from twelve inch records to ten inch records.

It is therefore an object of the present inven-- tion to provide an improved phonograph mechanism of the class referred to having improved means whereby, by means of a single operative change or adjusting means, both the record discharging mechanism and the reproducing head positioning mechanism may be changed to adapt them to a change of size of record.

Another object is to provide, in a phonograph mechanism of the class referred to, having 2. record discharging mechanism adaptable to be positioned for discharging records of diiferentsizes,

improved means whereby when the record discharging mechanism is changed, the reproducing head positioning mechanism will automatically be changed to correctly position the reproducing head for the change of size of record.

Another object is to provide, in a phonograph mechanism of the class referred to, improved means for lowering the needle of the reproducing head upon the record to be played.

Another object is to provide, in a mechanism of the class referred to, improved means for supporting the reproducing tone arm in non-operating position.

Another object is to provide, in a mechanism M of theclass referred to, an improved unitary.

1936, Serial No. 75,359

construction of dash-pot type of tone arm lowering mechanism.

Another object is to provide generally an improved mechanism of the class referred to.

Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains.

My invention is fully disclosed in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the main panel of a phonograph mechanism embodying my invention with the turntable of the mechanism removed for clearness and illustrating the position which parts thereof assume during the playing of a twelve inch record;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating the position of the parts during thedischarge of a played record;

. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view taken approximately from the plane 3-3 of Fig. 1 illustrating a part of the turntable omitted from Fig. '1 and a turntable driving mechanism under the panel of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken from the plane 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to a part of Fig. 1 illustrating the record discharging mechanism in the position to discharge ten inch records;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the plane 6-B of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the plane of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional viewtaken from the plane 8-8 of Fig. 2, and corresponding to Fig. '7' but with the parts in difierent positions;-

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a part of a tone arm lowering mechanism, the parts being shown in elevation in Figs. '7 and 8;

Fig. 10 is a front elevational view of the phonoraph mechanism tone arm in stopped returned position which it assumes whenabout to be lowered by the record, the view being taken approximately from the plane Ill-l0 of Fig. 1 with parts back of the plane omitted for clearness;

Fig. 11 is a view of the parts of Fig. 10 but in the tone arm lowered position with the needle engagingthe record to be reproduced;

Fig. 12 is a view illustrating mechanism on the under side or opposite side of the panel of Fig. 1, with the parts in the position for reproducing a twelve inch record;

Fig. 13-is a view of the parts of Fig. 12 in the position for reproducing a ten inch record;

Fig. 14 is a view illustrating the mechanism parts in the transition from the position for reproducing twelve inch records to'the position for reproducing ten inch records.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken from the plane |5|5 of Fig. 6 with parts behind the section plane omitted;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken from the plane IB-IG of Fig. 6 with parts behind the section plane omitted;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the plane |'|-|l of Fig. 1;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the plane l8-| 8 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 19 is a plan view illustrating separately an element illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 in cooperative position with other elements.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown at I a panel preferably made from sheet metal upon which the principal parts of the mechanism to be described are mounted and supported, some on the upper side as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and some on the under side as shown in Figs. 12 to. 14. The panel I may be mounted in any desirable cabinet, portable or otherwise, and the reproducing'arm indicated generally at I may be of the type adapted to energize a remotely disposed amplifier or loud speaker. On the under side of the turntable Fig. 3, is mounted a motor 6 driving a turntable shaft 5 which projects upwardly through the panel l and rotatably drives the turntable '6 upon which may 'be placed a pile or tier of disc-form records 1-1. In a manner to be described, the needle 8, Figs. 10 and 11, of the reproducing arm 2 engages the record groove of the uppermost record '1, reproducing the same, and at 'the end of the reproduction, the reproducing arm 2 which may be referred to in some instances as the tone arm, is first elevated from the record and swung toward its starting position and at the same time the finished record is lifted from the pile and discharged laterally from the pile and the needle 8 is lowered again upon the next record of the .pile at the beginning thereof. Thus, the entire tier of records may be played one after the other automatically.

By means of a lever 9 which may be moved from one position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to another position shown in Fig. 5, the mechanism may be changed to adapt it respectively to reproduce and discharge records of two difierent sizes, this one change or adjustment changing both the record discharge mechanism and the mechanism which positions the tone arm at the beginning of the record,

In my copending application Serial No. 232,248, filed June 25, 1934., for improvements in Phonograph record changing mechanism, I have illustrated and described a mechanism which can be changed from the reproducing and discharging of one size of records to reproducing and discharging another size of records, the apparatus being generally of the type herein illustrated and described. In that mechanism, both the record discharging elements and the tone arm positioning elements must be separately adjusted or positioned. The invention'of the present'application, therefore, may be considered as an improvement of the mechanism of said application and reference may be had thereto for a more complete description of parts which are herein briefly described.

The motor 4 besides" driving the shaft 5 drives a rotary head l0 having an upstanding flange approximately semi-cylindrical in form and rotatable by the motor 4 preferably co-axially with the shaft 5, the flange projecting upwardly abovg the upper surface of the panel I as shown in Fig.

The tone arm 2 at the beginning of a record occupies the solid line position of Fig. 1 with the needle resting on the record (not shown) As the motor drives the turntable and the uppermost record therewith, the needle. follows the spiral groove of the record and the arm 2 is slowly propelled clockwise toward the position'2a, at which the needle reaches the terminal groove of the record. Such terminal grooves as is well known may be slightly out of round, in which case the tone arm will be oscillated in the position 2a, or the final groove may be spiral in which case the tone arm in the position 2a may be given a quick clockwise movement.

The tone arm 2 carries thereon a three-prong device I2, to be more fully described, one prong of which has a tooth H projecting downwardly therefrom When the tone arm 2 reaches the end of the record, of the type which oscillates the arm, the tooth I4 will ride up on a ratchet plate I5 mounted upon an arm i6 pivoted at H 'on the panel I and will; by ratcheting engagement with teeth on the ratchet plate I5, move the arm I6 clockwise. If the terminal groove is of the spiral kind, the prong l3 will engage an upstanding post 8 on the arm I6 and move the arm counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 1, or toward the left as viewed in Figs. 7. and 8. The end of the arm l6 remote from thepivot I I has a V-form cam notch l9 therein in which is engaged a pin 26 on an arm 2| pivoted on the panel I by a screw 22 which, in an enlargedperforation in the arm 2|, permits the arm to oscillate horizontally thereon and also permits it to oscillate vertically, for example from the position shown in Fig. 'I to that shown in Fig. 8. A movement of the arm is in either direction therefore will cause the cam notch I9 to act on the pin and move the arm.

2| clockwise as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2.

A spring 23 acts constantly to yieldably hold the arm 2| in the counter-clockwise direction with the pin 2| against the cam notch I9 so as always to return it thereinto but to allow it to ride thereoutof.

When the arm 2i is thus rocked clockwise, it removes a hook 24, Figs. 1 and 2, from engagement with a post 25 (see also'Figs. 7 and 8) pr0= jecting upwardly from a lever 26 which is pivoted on the panel I at 21 to'oscillate horizontally. The lever 26 has an arm 28 projecting laterally therefrom and a spring 29 constantly urges the arm 28 and lever 26 to rotate counter-clockwise on the pivot 21 so that when the post 25 is released from the hook 25, the arm 26 moves counter-clockwise under the impulsion of the spring 29 and a pointed end 30 thereof is thereby moved from the solid line position 30 to the broken line position 36a of Fig. 1, and in the latter position is inthe rotational path of the head flange I E.

On the completion of its revolution, the head flange engages the pointed end at 3% and forcibly oscillates the arm 26 counter-clockwise carrying the pointed end to the position shown in Fig.

' 2 where it rides upon the outer periphery of the flange I! through a substantial part of the same revolution. This forced power-effected counterclockwise oscillation of the arm 26 moves the end of the arm 26 opposite the point 36, into engagement with a depending cam portion 3| of the arm 2| which projects downwardly through a perforation 32 in the panel'l and thereby lifts the end of the arm 2| around the screw 22, the movement being facilitated by a roller 33 on the arm26, and

2,191,2r5 by depending ears 34-34 on the arm 2|, these parts being shown clearly in Figs. 7 and 8 in connection with Fig, 1.

The prong |3 of the device |2 on the tone arm 2 above referred to is provided with a roller 35 disposed above the arm 2| and the rising arm 2| engages the roller and moves it upwardly from the position in Fig. 7 to the position in Fig. 8, thereby raising the tone arm or rocking it around its pivot 35 and supporting the tone arm in its elevated position upon the roller. The arm 2| is now inclined as shown in Fig. 8, and by gravity, the arm supported on the roller 35 rolls downwardly on the arm 2| concurrently rotating it counter-clockwise around its vertical pivot 31 from the position 2a of Fig. 1 or 2 to the position 2 of Fig. 1.

As the tone arm 2 rotates counter-clockwise to its starting position, pivoting around the vertical axis 31, and as the roller 35 rolls down the inclined arm 2|, the tone arm 2 also pivots around a horizontal axis. This construction of axes is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 16. A plate 38 has trunnions 3939 formed thereon; the trunnions projecting through perforations in side walls 40-- 0 of the sheet metal press-formed tone arm 2 upon which trunnions 39-39 the tone arm may oscillate vertically. The plate 38 is secured to the upper end of a post 4| having oscillatory bearing in vertically spaced portions of a sheet metal housing 42 which is rigidly secured in position on the plate I in any suitable manner. The plate 38 may therefore oscillate horizontally to give oscillatory movement to the trunnionsupported arm 2.

The device l2 above referred to comprises generally a body portion 43 pivoted for oscillation on a horizontal axis by means of a pin 44 rigidly secured to the body 43 at one end and having oscillatory bearing in a pair of spaced depending ears 45 formed integral with the plate 38, Figs. 6 andlfi. A cotter pin 45 is projected through the pin 44 to retain it in the bearing ears 45 and one end of -a tension spring 41 is secured to the eye of the cotter pin at one end and at the.

other end to the plate 38, and acting through the pin, holds the device l2 yieldingly in the counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6 for the purposes above described. 7

Besides the lower prong I3 above described, the device l2 has an upper prong 48 and an intermediate prong 49 extending forwardly therefrom. The prongs 48 and 49 and I3 cooperate with a stop device shown generally at 50, Figs. 6, 10, 11 and 15, and comprise the following parts. A bracket 5| is secured by upstanding ears 52-52 to the depending side walls 4040 of the tone arm 2 and has, preferably integral therewith, a wing 53 extending laterally from the arm. A screw 54 is projected downwardly through a transverse slot 55 in the bracket 5| and through a perforation in the upper leg of a horizontal disposed U-form stop member 51 having a lower leg 58,'and the intermediate or closed portion of the U being disposed vertically as at 59 and constituting a. stop. The upper end of the screw 54 is enlarged into a head 50 which overlaps the sides of the slot 55, and a pair oi lock nuts on the screw under the stop member leg mount the screw 54 for movement bodily with the stop member 51 and in the slot 55 relative to the bracket 5| and tone arm 2; and by means of a screw 5| threaded in the head 55 and rotatably mounted in one of the ears 52 and the arm side wall 40 and giving access externally to a screw slot 52 therein for turning the screw, the head 50 and therefore the entire stop member 51 may be adjusted transversely of the arm to adjustably position the stop 59 thereof for a purpose to be described.

The prong 48 above referred to projects forwardly above the bracket 5| and if the tone arm 2 be raised manually, w'll be engaged by the bracket and on continue upward movement of the arm will rock the device l2 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 6 to lift the tooth 4 and other parts of the prong I3 clear of the underlying parts so that the tone arm may be swung manually freely. The prong 49 is disposed under the bracket 5| and upon elevation of the prong l3 by elevation of the arm 2| to the position shown in Fig. 8, the prong 49 will be moved upwardly and engage the bracket 5|, and by this means when the prong i3 is raised, the prong'49 will raise the tone arm 2 in the operation thereof above described. In the normal operation of the tone arm while reproducing a record, the prong 48 remains out of engagement with the tone arm or the bracket 5|, and the prong 49 is disposed out of engagement with the bracket 5| as clearly illustrated in Figs. 6 and 15.

As above described, the tone arm is swung toward its starting position by the gravity-induced downward rolling of the roller 35 and prong |3 on the inclined arm 2|, the arm having been elevated at the end of a record reproduction by the up thrust on the prong |3 effected by elevation of the arm 2| and by the prong d9 thereupon thrusting upwardly on the bracket 5|. When the arm has swung and moved down the incline 2|, the stop 59 above described on the underside of the tone arm engages the upper end of a stop post shown generally at 53, thawing 53 overlapping the upper end of the post. By the construction to be described, the post is first elevated to this receiving position and support of the tone arm by the elevated arm 2| ord whichhas been played having been in the meantime removed by means to be described) The stop post 53 (see Figs. '7, 8, 9, 10, 11) comprises a piston rod 54 reciprocable in a tubular guide 55 secured at its lower end to or formed integrally withan enlarged cylinder 55 secured,

to a plate 51 on the underside of the panel I, the guide 55 projecting upwardly'through the panel I through a slot or elongated perforation 58. On the lower end of the rod 54 is secured a piston fitting the inner wall of the cylinder and weighted by a weight I0 secured to the piston. The construction is such that the piston 59 may be moved upwardly freely, being a one-way piston of any suitable construction; and when the piston is moved downwardly by the weight 10, suction or partial vacuum will be created above the piston and will be relieved by drawing air inwardly through the tubular guide 65 and around the rod 54 which fits loosely in the guide 55 for this purpose, and the escapement thus provided causing the piston 59 to move downwardly with a retarded movement. The upper end of the guide 55 is threaded and a gland hot H is threaded thereon and packing 12 is disposed within the nut and at the upper end of the guide 55. By turning the nut 10, the packing 12 may be compressed more or less to seal to agreater or lesser degree the rod 64 in the guide 55 to con- 1 trol the rate of air admission into the guide during the downward movement of the piston to thereby adjustably regulate and control the rate of downward retarded movement of the post 84.

At the upper end of the post is provided a cup 13 in which is disposed a felt or like friction pad 14. A downwardly tapering frusto-conical cup 15 rests upon aflange 16 on the post and is retained yieldingly upright by a spring 'l'l abutting at opposite ends upon the cup bottom and upon the cup 13.

I Under the panel I, as best shown in Figs. 7 and 8, a bar 18 is supported, hinged at one end upon a screw 19 secured to the'panel and depending therefrom, and having a spring 80 abutting between the panel and the bar end to yieldingly and cushioningly support the bar end. A hanger 8| is secured at its upper end .to the underside of the arm 2| and projects downwardly through a suitable perforation in the panel I and through a perforation in the bar 18, and supports the bar by a pair of lock nuts 82 thereon under the bar. The free end of the bar It is bentdownwardly and provided with a finger 83 disposed under the above-described weight H which projects downwardly out of the cylinder 66. 7

When," as above described, the arm 2! is 'elevated, the hanger 8| raises the flnger 83 which engages the weight and elevates it, elevating the piston rod 64 and the pad 16 and cup therewith. As described above, the arm is elevated by oscillating movement of the arm 26. Figs. 1 and 2, the pointed end of which was engaged by the head flange I i. It will be under stood, of course, that this condition continues only while the head flange H is turning through a part of a revolution, and when this has been completed, and thehead 'fiange moves out of engagement with the pointed end 30, a second Jill , the spring 1? to its normal vertical position, re-

upon the record, the. parts moving from spring 84 which was put under tension by the movement of the arm 26, now'retracts the arm to its original position of Fig. 1, thus withdrawing the opposite end of the arm 25 from under the arm 2i (see also Fig. 8), allowing the arm 29 to fall, this action occurring after the tone arm has been returned as above described to its starting position. When, therefore, the arm 2i falls to deposit the tone arm on the upper end of the stop post, shown generally atv 63, the support of the bar it by the hanger 811 is also withdrawn, the parts moving from the position of Fig. 8 to that of Fig. 7 and the finger 83 is withdrawn from the weight iii.

The parts thus far described, therefore, are all now in their original position except that the tone arm is supported on the post, as shown in Figs. 7 and 10.

The swing of the arm 2 when stopped by the post 63 rocks the cup ts from its normal position to that shown in Figs. 10 and 11, and the finger 53 rests upon the pad i i. The weight of the arm depresses the rod 6% with a retarded movement as above described and the tone arm, slowly moves downwardly until the needle it rests the position of Fig. 10 to that of Fig; 11.

The weight it continues the downward movement of the pad 75 until it clears the wing 53 as shown in Fig. 7; l v

- The end of the tone arm is now supported on the needle 8 upon the margin of the record and the cup 15 in righting itself under impulsion of acts upon the stop 59 and pushes the arm and.

theneedle over sufliciently to en a e the needle 7 with the origin of the record groove to start the reproduction thereof.

The lowermost position of the pad 14 is low enough to deposit the needle upon the last record of the tier as shown in Fig. 11 and therefore obviously it will deposit the needle upon the uppermost record of a pile.

Referring to Fig. 9, the cylinder 66 and tubular guide 65 are secured to the plate 61, and as will be described hereinafter, the plate is removable from the panel I and the perforation 68 is large enough for the cup 15 to be withdrawn down- When, as above described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, the lever 26 is oscillated by the head flange II from the position of Fig. 1 to that of Fig. 2, to eifect'returning of the tone arm to the starting position, the top-most record of the tier of records is removed by record dischargemechanism which will be described.

The arm 28 which is attached to the lever 26 andwhich moves therewith acts through a link 85 and a crank 86 to rotate a post 87 (see also Fig." 4) upon which is vertically oscillatably mounted a record pick-up arm 88, When the pick-up arm is rotated with the post from the position of Fig. 1 to that of Fig. 2, the end of the pick-up arm will engage the edge of the topmost record and the rotation of the underlying records will cause the top-most record to be removed laterally from the pile, this part of the mechanism and the operation thereof being substantially the same as that described in the above mentioned pending application and reference may be had thereto for a more complete description.

The pick-up arm 88 and post 81 may be adjusted radially toward and from the turntable center to adapt it to discharge two sizes of records such as twelve inch and ten inch by the following means. A pin 89, Fig. 4, extends down=- wardly from the post 81 through a perforation in an elongated plate so and through a perforathe handle 9 above-mentioned is secured to the disc extending laterally therefrom. When the handle 9 is rotated or oscillated from the posi- 'tion' of Fig. 1 to that of Fig.5, the pin 89 will be moved through the arcuate slot 92 and carry the pm $9 and therefore the post 8? from a position remote from .the turntable to a position nearer to it to correspondingly position the pick-up arm 88. During said adjusting movement, the plate 99 is guided by a pin l9! thereon projecting downwardly through and moving radially of the turntable in a slot H92 in the panel l. I

A spring 893, connected at one end to the panel i and at the other end to the cotter pin 94, exerts tension on the pin 89 to hold it in the extreme end of'the arcuate slot I92 to hold the P rt including the handle 9 in their oppo- Wit As above referred to, when the pick-up arm Q is adjusted radially to adapt it to the removal of different sizes pf records, the tone arm receiving post 63 is simultaneously and by the same means adjusted in position to stop and position the tone arm for the two sizes of records, and the mechanism, forthis purpose will now be described particularly in connection with Figs. 12, 13 and 14.

At any time when the handle 9 is adjusted to the large-diameter-record position of Fig. l

. upon loosening the screw I may be adjusted toward or from the post I! l and the pin I9I is retracted outwardly in the slot I92, the pin I9I engages an abutment I94 on an arm 95 pivoted at one end as at 95 to the underside of the panel I and moves the arm 95 to a counter-clockwise position shown in Fig. 12 as viewed from the underside of thepanel, the parts in that view as well as in Figs. 13 and 14 appearing as if the panel of Fig. 1 were hingingly rotated upwardly around its upper edge.

The movement thus given to the arm 95 is communicated by a link 91 to the dash-pot plate 61 above described, which is pivoted to the underside of the panel I at 98 and rocks the plate clockwise as viewed in Figs. 12 to 14, which moves the dash-spat 56 (and therewith the stop post 83 above described) in a direction farther from the turntable center so as to position the tone-- arm for twelve inch records. When the plate 5'! is rocked to this position, it

is latched therein by a bell crank form latch 99 lever 95 may be adjusted as shown in Figal'l' wherein the abutment comprises a clip having legs straddling the arm 95 and having a screw I05 projectedthrough one leg and screwed into the other and passing through an elongated perforation or slot I 05 in the arm 95 whereby I04 the abutment a to position the arm 95 and therefore, through -01 the latch.

the' link 91, toposition the plate 61.

When the adjusting arm 9is moved to the placing the tone arm manually upon the edge of the smaller diameter record, the first one in the tier of records, and when the recordhas been completely played and the arm 20, Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 8, is oscillated as above described, a depending pin I01 thereon will engage a trip arm I08 of the bell crank latch 99 and withdraw the latch arm IOI from the tooth I02 of the plate 61 whereupon the tension spring I 00 will rock the arm 95, moving the link 91 and rocking the plate 51 to move the dash-pot 66 and The record will be' played bystop post 63 nearer theturntable center or in position to stop the reproducing arm 2 in the correct position for the ten inch record. To

insure that the stop post 63 will be stopped in the correct position, means is provided to accurately stop the arm 95 as shown. in Fig. 18 comprising an angle piece I09 one leg of which is secured to the panel I by screws III] passing through elongated slots II I-I II in said leg, and the other or vertical leg having an elongated slot I I2 therein through which the arm 95projects. When the arm 95 moves therefore from the locked position of Fig. 14 to the released position Fig. 13, the arm 95 will be moved into engagement with the end of the slot II2 by the spring I06 and the final position of the arm in the slot may be adjustably determined by ad-.

' mechanism from the ten inch to the twelve inch records, the pick-up arm 88 which discharges the records and the stop post 63 which stops the arm, are both changed simultaneously by adjusting the position of the arm 9, but in changing from twelve inch to ten inch records, there is liability that the change-over might be made manually as described when twelve inch records were on the turntable, and in such event, the needle of the reproducing head would be dragged over the record inwardly and mar the record. By-the interlock above described, even if the change-over-is accidentally made from twelve inch to ten inch while playing a twelve inch record, the stoppost 63 will not be moved nor drag the needle over the record, since the moving of the stop 03' large diameter to small diameter position can only occur at the finish of a record. l

The arrangement referred to also provides for the playing of a twelve inch record followed by one or more ten inch records. In such case, at the-time that the twelve inch record is being discharged, the parts can be set for the ten inch record so that when the twelve inch has discharged, the stop post 63 will move into the ten inch position. l m

The arm I6 above described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2 is shown separately in Fig. 19. A wing II3 extends laterally therefrom at the free end and at spaced points thereon is provided with downwardly projecting dents upon which ,the free.

end of the arm I6 may ride or slide upon the upper side of the panel I when the arm I 6 is oscillated as above described. Also, the wing II3 as well as the end of the arm I5 itself lies under the arm 2|. By this means, the arm is rendered stable in its movement and rocking thereof in planes other than the plane of the arm itself is reduced and the operation thereof rendered more reliable.

,As shown in Figs. and 15, the lower leg 50 of the stop member 51 is provided with an upwardly concave portion IIB. When it is desired to support the tone arm above the record, for

and the concavityyreferred to will render the g support secure remove danger that the tone arm may easilybe displaced and fall, with the possibility of injuring the needle or the reproducin: head.

I claim:

1. In a phonograph mechanism of the type comprising'means for playing and discharging successively a plurality of disc records placed in ing position, a stop post mechanism disposed laterally of the turntable for stopping the swing of the arm in said position and for lowering it into engagement with a record and mounted tobe moved toward and from the turntable to stop the arm in reproducing position for records of different diameters, and mechanism means to effect moving of one said mechanism toward or from the turntable in correspondence with movement of the other mechanism.

2. In a phonograph mechanism of the type comprising means for playing and discharging successively a plurality of disc records placedin a pile on a turntable, a record. discharging mechanism disposed laterally of the turntable mounted to be moved toward and from the turntable to position it for discharging discs of different diameters, a record reproducing tone arm mounted to swing over the turntable to a record starting position, a stop post mechanism disposed, laterally of the turntable for stopping the 'swing of the arm in said position and for lowering it into engagement with a record and mounted to be moved toward and from the turntable to stop the arm in reproducing position for records of different diameters, manual means for moving one mechanism toward and from the turntable and mechanism means interconnecting the two mechanisms to effect a simultaneous corresponding movement of the other mechanism.

3. In a phonograph mechanism of the type comprising means for playing and discharging successively a plurality of disc records placed in a pile on a turntable, a record discharging mechanism disposed laterally of the turntable mounted to be moved toward and from the turntable to position it for discharging discs of different diameters, a record reproducing tone arm mounted to swing over the turntable to a record starting position, automatic means to swing the arm at the end of a record reproduction, a stop post mechanism disposed laterally of the turntable for stopping the swing of the arm in said position and for lowering it into engagement with a record and mounted to be moved toward and from the turntable to stop the arm in reproducing position for records of different diameters, manual means for moving one mechanismto and from the turntable and interconnecting mechanism for eifecting corresponding movement of the other mechanism actuated by the automatic tone arm swinging means.

c. In a phonograph mechanism of thedisc record and turntable type, a main frame; a tone arm swingable on the frame, automatic mechanism operable to swing the arm from a record finishing to a record starting position, a stop on the arm, a mechanism comprising an element pivoted on the frame, a post on the element at one side of the pivotand in the path of the stop to be engaged thereby to stop thearm, operable means to pivotally move the pivoted element to position the post remote from the turntable. yieldable means tending to move the pivoted element to position the post nearer to the turntable, latch means preventing movement of the pivoted element by the yieldable means, and means to cause the latch means to be tripped by operation of the automatic mechanism to cause the yieldable means to move the pivoted element.

5. In an automatic disc record reproducing turntable type phonograph mechanism, a main frame, a tone arm swingably mounted on the frame, a post supported on the frame for Stepping and supporting the arm in a record starting position, stop means on the arm, the stop means comprising a bracket on the arm having a slot therein, a screw rotatably supported on the arm and anchored against longitudinal movement, a nut on the screw having a small diameter shank extending through the slot and reciprocable therein upon turning of the screw, an element connected to the shank beyond the slot having a substantially vertical portion to function as a post-engaging stop.

6. In an automatic disc 'record reproducing turntable type phonograph mechanism, a main frame, a tone arm swingably mounted on the frame, a post supported on the frame for stopping and supporting the arm in a record starting position, stop means on the arm, the stop means 1 comprising a bracket on the arm having a slot therein, a screw rotatably supported on the arm and anchored against longitudinal movement, a nut on the screw'having a small diameter shank extending through the slot and reciprocable therein upon turning of the screw,ra' U-shaped element connected to the shank'beyondthe slot .and the closed end of the U disposed substantially vertically to function as a post-engaging stop, and the other leg of the U being generally horizontally disposed and having an upwardly concave portion to provide'an-optional support for the arm engageable with the top of the post upon manual lifting of the arm.

7. In an automatic disc record reproducing turntable type phonograph mechanism, a main frame, a tone arm'swingably mounted on the frame, a post supported on the frame for stopping and supporting the'arm in'a record starting position, stop means on the arm, the stop means comprising a bracket on the arm having a slot therein, a screw rotatably supported. on the arm and anchored against longitudinal movement, a nut on the screw having a small diameter shank extending through the slot and reciprocable therein upon turning of the screw, a U- gageable with the top of the post upon manual lifting of the arm.

8. In an automatic phonograph mechanism, a main frame, a tone arm having downwardly extending side flanges, a support for the tone arm comprising a generally horizontal plate secured to the frameand having generally horizontal axially aligned trunnions, extending laterally therefrom and projecting through corresponding aligned perforations in the armiianges to provide a horizontal'pivot post for the arm, a. pair of spaced ears on the plate, a generally horizontal shaft having oscillatory bearing in aligned perforations in the ears, an element secured to the shaft, oscillatable therewith. a tension spring secured to the shaft at one side of its axis and to the plate to yieldably rock the said element in one direction, automatic mechanism to rock the said element in the other direction and the said element having means then engageable with the arm to rock it upwardly on said pivot axis.

9. In a phonograph of the type comprising a generally horizontal panel, automatic mechanism mounted on the panel for elevating and swingably returning a tone arm from record-finishing position to record-starting position, a. trip mechanism actuated by movement of the arm at the record-finishing position to effect actuation of theautomatic mechanism, the trip mechanism comprising a sheet metal element pivoted at one end upon the panel and at its free end having a post extending upwardly therefrom and laterally of the post having a wing extension, a mechanism arm overlying the said free end, the post being engageable by the tone arm to move the said element, a cam and cam follower one on the free end of the element and the other on the overlying arm to move the overlying arm upon tone-arm-effected movement of the said element, the said wing extension by engagement with the panel and with the overlying arm below and above it respectively, limiting rocking movement 7 of the said element.

10. In an automatic phonograph mechanism, a main frame, a record discharging mechanism for discharging records from a pile on a phonograph turntable movable on the frame to position it near to and remote from the phonograph turntable, a tone arm engageabie post supported on the frame laterally of the turntable to move to a position remote fromjthe turntable or to a position nearer thereto, mechanism elements interconnecting the post and an element of the record discharging mechanism, a handle for moving the record discharging mechanism element to position the discharging mechanism and through the interconnecting element to correspondingly position the post, and means for causing the tone arm to be supported by thepost out of contact with the record and concurrently causing actuation of the record discharging mechanism.

11. A mechanism as described in claim 10 and in which means is provided to adjust the position of the post in one said position comprising an abutment on one of the interconnecting elements adjustable relative thereto and engageable by the record discharging mechanism element. A

12. In an automatic phonograph mechanism,

a main frame, a record discharging mechanism,

for discharging records from a pile on a phonegraph turntable movable on the frame to position it nearto and remote from the phonograph turntable, a tone arm engageable post supported on the frame laterally of the turntable to move to a position remote from the turntable or to a position nearer thereto, yieldable means'acting onthe post tending to move it to one position, an element of the record discharging mechanism disposed to overcome the yieldable means, upon movement of the record changing mechanism to one position to'move the post to the other position, and means causing the tone arm to be supported by the post out of contact with the record and concurrently causing actuation of the record discharging mechanism. I

13. In an automatic phonograph mechanism, a main frame, a record discharging mechanism for discharging records from a pile on a phonograph turntable movable on the frame to position ,it near to and remote from the phonograph turnr one position to move the post to the other position, and upon movement of the record discharging mechanism to the other position permitting the yieldable means to move the post to the said one position, means for causing the tone arm to be suppo ted by the post out of contact with the record and concurrently causing actuation of the record discharging mechanism. j

14. In an automatic phonograph mechanism, a main frame, a record discharging mechanism for discharging records from a pile on a phonograph turntable movable on the frame to .position it near to and remote from the phonograph turntable, a tone arm engageable post supported on the frame laterally of the turntable to move to a position remote from the turntable or to a position nearer thereto, yieldable means acting on the post tending to move it to one position, an element of the record discharging mechanism disposed to overcome the yieldable means upon movement of the record changing mechanism to one position to move the post to the other position, and upon movement of the record discharging mechanism to the other position permitting the yieldable means to move the post to the said one position, and means to adjust the position of the post in said one position comprising an abutment adjustably secured to the panel and engaged by an element movable with the post, means for causing the tone arm to be supported by the post out of contact with the record and concurrently causing actuation of the record discharging mechanism.

15. In an automatic phonograph mechanism comprising a turntable for supporting a pile of disc records and a swingabletone arm, a record discharging mechanism movable to positions adjacent to and remote from the turntable, a post for stopping movement of the tone arm at a record startingposition, a pivoted base supporting the tone arm at a side of the pivot, a pivoted arm, a'link connecting the pivoted arm to the base, an element of the record changing mechanism dis posed to engage the pivoted arm upon movement of the record changing mechanism to one position, to move the arm to effect movement of the post, through the link and base to one position, a spring tending to move the pivoted arm in the direction to move the base and post to the other position when the record changing mechanism is moved to its other position, and a latch preventing such movement, an automatic mechanism actuated by movement of the t'one arm for effecting movement of the tone; arm from. a record finishing position to a record starting position and into engagement with'the post in each position thereof, said latch means being disposed to be tripped by said automatic mechanism when actuated.

16. A mechanism as described in claim 15 and in which means isprovided to adjust the post in said one position comprising an abutment adjustnism.

adjustably fixed stop engageable by the pivoted arm.

18. In an automatic phonograph mechanism of the type comprising a disc record turntable, a main frame and a tone arm mounted on the frame swingable laterally to a record starting position, automatic support means to elevate the tone arm at the completion of a record reproduction and swing it to record starting position while elevated, a stop on the arm, a post movable to an elevated position and movable downwardly by weight imposed thereon, the stop being engageable by the post to position the arm with the elevated post beneath a portion of the arm, means withdrawing the automatic support means with the arm in record starting position to cause the arm .to be supported by the post and subsequently lowered with the post due to the weight of the tone arm thereby permitting the arm to contact a record on the turntable, and a support for the post mounted on the frame movable towards and from the turntable to position the arm to reproduce records of different diameters.

19. A mechanism as described in claim 18 and whereinan element supported on the frame is provided having a portion engageable with the post and means linking said element and the automatic support means adapted to elevate said element to raise the post upon elevating movement of the tone arm.

20. An automatic phonograph mechanism of the type comprising a disc record turntable, a

main frame and a tone arm mounted on the frame swingable laterally to a record starting position, automatic support means to elevate the tone arm' at the completion of a record reproduction and swing it to record starting position while elevated, ,a stop on the arm, a post movable to an elevated-position and movable downwardly by weight imposed thereon, the stop being engageable by the post to position the arm and with the post elevated beneath a portion of the arm, means withdrawing the automatic support means with the arm inrecord starting position tocause the arm to. be supported by the post and subsequentlylowered with the post due to the weight W: of thetone arm therebyv permitting the arm to iotally mounted adjacent said turntable and carrying .a stylus at its free end, so that the stylus may move radially of a supported record during reproduction of the record, .a record-removing device adapted to engage the edge of the record, said device being adjustably mounted adjacent said turntable and adapted when inone positionto remove records of one size and when in another position to remove records of a difi'erent size, a tone-arm lowering device for placing the tonearm in initial reproducing position with respect to a record, said lowering device being adjustably mounted adjacent said turntable so as to be movable at will to difierent positions corresponding respectively to the different positions of said record-removing device, means for raising said tone-' arm and moving it into engagement with said lowering device upon completion of the reproduction of a record, means for actuating said recordremoving device to remove the reproduced record, and means for adjusting said devices to their said difl'erent positions to adapt the mechanism for reproduction of different sized records.

22. In a record reproducing mechanism, a supporting table, a turntable rotatably carried by said supporting table and adapted to support records to be reproduced, a tone-arm pivotally mounted on said supporting table and carrying a stylus at its free end, so that the stylus may move radially of a supported record during reproduc--v tion of the record, a record-removing device adapted to engage the edge of the record, said de-' vice being movably seated in an opening in said supporting table and adapted when in one position to remove records of one size and when in another position to remove records" of a different size, a tone-arm lowering device for placing the tone-arm in initial reproducing position with respect to a record, said lowering device being movably seated in a second opening in said supporting table so as to be movable to different positions corresponding respectively to the different posi tions of said record-removing device, means for raising said tone-arm and moving it into engagement with said lowering device upon completion of the reproduction of a record, and a manually operable member connecting said devices for' moving them simultaneously to adapt the mechanism for reproduction records.

23. In an automatic phonograph of the type in which records'are placed in a pile on the phonoof the different sized graph turntable, a main frame, a turntable mounted on the frame, a tone arm swingably mounted on the frame, a tone-arm lowering post. supported on the frame for stopping and supporting the tone arm in record starting position, stop means comprising a bracket on said tone arm having a slot therein, a screw rotatably supported on said arm, a nut on the screw having a shank extending through the slot and reciprocable there-- in upon turning of the screw, a vertical portion' carried by the nut for engaging a side of said post, a horizontal portion at one side of said vertical portion for engaging the top of said post dure ing normal operation, and means for positioning said tone arminoperatively comprising a dished surface on the other side of said vertical portion for receiving the top of said post.

PAUL U. LANNERD. 

